Houston Texans star Joe Mixon and his agent have claimed the NFL fined the running back $25,000 for comments he did not make criticizing officials after his team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs defeated the Texans in the Divisional round 23-14, with several calls from the officials questioned by the public and those in Houston.

Mixon’s postgame comments sounded as if he knew he would get fined if he spoke any more negatively about the referees. A quote he claims he did not say was also attributed to him by Sports Illustrated, which appears to be the origin of the NFL’s information on the matter.  

‘Everybody knows how it is playing up here. You can never leave it into the refs’ hands,’ Mixon did say after the season-ending loss. ‘The whole world sees, man, what it is. When it comes down to it, you can never leave it into the refs’ hands. It’s all good, though.’

Here’s the bit that Mixon and his agent claim he did not say and appears to have crossed the line with the NFL, ‘Why play the game if every 50/50 call goes with Chiefs. These officials are [trash] & bias.’

The quote appears to be from a social media message from former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. 

Houston Texans’ Joe Mixon claimed the NFL has fined him for comments he did not make

Mixon’s Texans lost in the Divisional round to the Kansas City Chiefs last Saturday 23-14

Why play the game if every 50/50 call goes with Chiefs. These officials are 🗑🗑🗑🗑 & bias

— T.J. Houshmandzadeh (@housh84) January 18, 2025

Mixon reacted to the fine on social media shortly after it was announced. 

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‘I’m getting fined by the @nfl for what someone else said. What’s next? I get fined by them for Connor McDavid cross checking an opponent on a @nhl game!’

‘& really tried to fine me 4 the max that’s mind blowing… smh’

Mixon’s agent, Peter Schaffer, told ESPN the running back will appeal the fine. 

The Texans star cites one of hockey’s biggest star’s, McDavid, who was suspended for three games by the NHL on Monday. 

McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers’ captain, cross-checked Vancouver Canucks’ opponent, Conor Garland, in the face last week in a rare unsportsmanlike act.